Chapter 21: Counterattack

At around the same time, on the top floor of a building in Cuiliu Alley.

Chen Chong, dressed in elegant attire, stood by the window, gazing out at Peach Blossom Alley.

“Just now, that rescue signal fire was lit at the Enlightenment School’s location, I wonder how things are going. It shouldn’t be a big problem, Chen Lin and Wu Song may have messed up, but they shouldn’t dare to disobey Jinshi’s orders.”

“But why is my heart still racing like this?”

Chen Chong muttered to himself, his eyes showing a hint of concern.

The signal fire had also disrupted his peaceful state of mind.

……

It was unclear whether it was because of the protection fee or because of their sense of responsibility, but within half a stick of incense time, two Huayang Sect cultivators arrived at the Enlightenment School.

Both men were middle-aged, with an aura of power emanating from them, and the onlookers at the door parted to let them through.

Both of their cultivations had reached the late stage of Qi Refining, seemingly stronger than Zhang Xiu, and were likely Grandmasters of Qi Refining.

Upon seeing the two arrive, Zhang Xiu took the lead in bowing.

“Greetings, Daoist Wang, greetings, Daoist Zhang.”

From Zhang Xiu’s actions, Su Jingzhen also knew that the visitors’ status was likely to be quite high.

The higher the visitors’ status, the more beneficial it would be for this matter.

Wu Song and Chen Lin immediately followed suit, bowing in respect.

“Greetings, Master Wang, Master Zhang…”

After paying their respects, they stood to the side, their faces still looking difficult, never expecting that a single rescue signal could summon these two.

Seeing Wu Song and Chen Lin here, Zhang and Wang’s brows furrowed slightly, with a hint of doubt.

Zhang Hong directly asked, “What’s going on here? Is there a demonic cultivator’s trail? Who used the rescue signal just now?”

As soon as he spoke, everyone’s eyes widened in surprise.

At this critical moment, the demonic cultivator who could instantly kill Wang Feng had put immense pressure on Huayang Sect.

That’s why they had directly dispatched two Grandmasters of Qi Refining.

Su Jingzhen stepped forward, cupping his hands in respect.

“Greetings, esteemed seniors, I used the rescue signal. I was forced to do so by Daoist Wu and Daoist Chen of Huayang Sect, and I had no choice but to use it to clear my name.”

Wu Song and Chen Lin were already standing on the opposite side, so Su Jingzhen didn’t fear offending them completely.

“What’s going on? Explain clearly,” Zhang Hong said again, his voice stern.

Zhang Hong’s face was dark, and his tone was authoritative.

Su Jingzhen remained calm and objective, recounting the events of the day in detail.

The onlookers were numerous, and he didn’t add any embellishments, telling the story in a straightforward manner.

After listening, Zhang Hong’s gaze turned to Wu Song. “You, tell me, is this how it happened?”

In the midst of the crowd, the two of them didn’t dare to lie: “As the two seniors said, the events are basically true. Lin Ping’s death has a great deal to do with Su Jingzhen, which is why we wanted to take him.”

As they spoke, their tone lacked confidence.

“Many Daoist friends are renting residences in our Huayang Sect, and it’s our duty to ensure their safety. We won’t let anyone who disobeys Huayang Sect’s rules go unpunished, but we also won’t wrong any innocent person.”

After listening to this, Zhang and Wang’s hearts were at ease. Zhang Hong immediately spoke up, his voice loud and clear.

“This is a message to everyone present. Now, let’s investigate! Start from this Enlightenment School and find Lin Ping’s corpse!”

As Zhang Hong’s voice fell, the first ray of sunlight from the east horizon shone on the peach tree in the courtyard.

Su Jingzhen’s lips curled up into a faint smile.

The Enlightenment School had only a few rooms, and with the abilities of the people present, it wouldn’t be difficult to search the entire place.

Zhang Hong’s gaze then fell on Lin Ping’s wife, Liu Shi.

“Madam, please take out Daoist Lin’s spirit tablet. This time, our Huayang Sect will definitely give you justice, but it seems that Daoist Su has no great relation to this matter.”

Zhang Hong’s words were fair, and he was being upright.

Liu Shi, though grieving, didn’t dare to hesitate and hurriedly handed over the broken spirit tablet.

Zhang Hong lightly stroked it, and from his storage bag, he took out a paper crane.

There was a drop of Lin Ping’s true essence blood in the spirit tablet, which, although dried up, could still be used.

Zhang Hong applied the blood to the paper crane, and with a few hand seals, the paper crane suddenly came to life, spreading its wings and flying away.

At this moment, Su Jingzhen’s heart skipped a beat.

Because the paper crane flew directly to the quiet room door, circled around, and then flew out.

This startled him, and he was reminded that a cultivator’s abilities were unpredictable.

He summarized the situation again, thinking that this time, he had been lucky, but if there was even a slight mistake, he would be doomed.

As the paper crane flew out of the school, Zhang Xiu also let out a sigh of relief.

At this time, Zhang Hong’s gaze turned back to Su Jingzhen, smiling. “Daoist Su, you’re no longer involved in this matter, but please settle the rescue fee, which is twenty low-grade spirit stones.”

Oh no!

Su Jingzhen’s face revealed a painful expression.

The onlookers also showed a hint of sympathy.

“Mr. Su, this is truly a disaster without a cause.”

“It’s said that he…”

The school was already struggling to make ends meet, and now they had to pay twenty low-grade spirit stones, which was like adding insult to injury.

“……”

The onlookers whispered among themselves.

“Huayang Sect has given you protection, but we can’t just run errands for free, right? Please understand, Daoist Su.”

Zhang Hong’s face still wore a smile, but this matter was non-negotiable.

Seeing Su Jingzhen’s troubled expression, Zhang Xiu’s heart was moved, and she wanted to help him pay the spirit stones.

But after thinking about it, she restrained herself, not because she was unwilling to help, but because twenty low-grade spirit stones was not a small amount, and she currently had no way to help Su Jingzhen.

Otherwise, there would be gossip, and she didn’t want to drag Su Jingzhen down.

Su Jingzhen sighed and took out the twenty low-grade spirit stones.

“Thank you, Daoist Zhang and Daoist Wang, for this time.”

Although he was unhappy, he still had to express gratitude.

What a miserable life this was.

After receiving the spirit stones, Zhang Hong handed Su Jingzhen a rescue symbol.

“If you need help, just call for rescue. Our Huayang Sect exists to protect your safety.”

As soon as he finished speaking, they chased after the paper crane.

The onlookers also swarmed out, with Huayang Sect leading the way, and they wanted to see who had killed Lin Ping.

Lin Ping’s family was stunned, but they also followed the crowd.

As for Wu Song and Chen Lin, those two had already slipped away.

At this point, Su Jingzhen’s crisis was temporarily resolved.

But he knew in his heart that this matter was only just beginning.

This time, he had counterattacked Chen Chong, and the other side would not let it go easily.

He still needed to prepare more, and he needed to use his wits to counter his enemies, proving that his power was still too weak.

……

Not long after, Chen Chong was in his attic.

His eyelids were jumping wildly.

“Why haven’t I received any news yet?”

He muttered to himself, his heart growing more anxious.

Just then, a voice came from outside the door.

“Master, Lin Ping’s corpse has been found.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Chong was overjoyed and immediately rushed out of the door, looking at the subordinate who reported to him: “They finally found it, then Su Jingzhen was punished by Huayang Sect, right?”

The subordinate’s face suddenly tensed up, shaking his head: “No, Lin Ping’s corpse is in the deep well of our Cuiliu School…”

“What did you say?!”

“……”